St. Anne’s Episcopal Church on Henderson Drive in Jacksonville is hoping the temperatures will warm up enough by afternoon that area residents will be willing to bundle up and come out to their blood drive.

With donations down during the winter months, collections are needed even more now to keep up with the needs, said the Rev. Mary Frances Curns.

“Even though it is going to be cold, the weather isn’t going to thwart our blood drive effort,” she said. “We hope everybody will be able to come by and support the Red Cross so that we can collect as many units as possible.”

Whether you are a considering donating for the first time or already do so on a regular basis, the Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to make it a New Year’s resolution to donate throughout the year.

National Blood Donor Month is observed in January to recognize the contribution on blood and platelet donors.

“The Red Cross collects about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply,” said Autumn Mihm, spokeswoman for the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Red Cross, with includes Eastern North Carolina.

On average, the Red Cross must collect about 15,000 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

National Blood Donor Month is held in January to help promote blood donation as a time when it is particularly needed.

“During the winter months it is difficult to collect blood for a couple of reasons; school is out and families are on vacation and bad weather can close blood drives,” Mihm said.

This time of year is also cold and flu season, which can keep people from being able to donate.

Donors of all blood types are needed; particularly those who have O negative, A negative and B negative blood types. O negative blood can be transfused to people of all blood types and is always in demand.

Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 in some states with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. A blood donor card or driver’s license and two other forms of identification are required at check in.

White Oak High School senior Taylor Smith spent one of her final days of the winter break making a potentially life-saving donation.

Taylor was among those who stopped by the mobile Red Cross unit parked outside Jacksonville Mall recently to give blood.

She was a first-time donor last year.

“I gave it a try and it was a really rewarding experience,” she said.

On her second visit to a Red Cross blood drive, she brought her boyfriend, Zach Domhoff, who donated for the first time.

“I’m a bit nervous; I don’t know what to expect,” he said as he waited to give.

To locate a blood drive in your area, call 1-800-Red Cross or visit the website at redcrossblood.org.

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GIVE BLOOD

Below is a list on Red Cross blood drives scheduled in the area this month.